Country's commercial banks will operate banking activities from 10am to 12.30pm from tomorrow in line with a fresh lockdown declared by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The central bank issued a circular in this regard on Sunday based on the government decision.
"Commercial banks will remain open from 10am to 12.30pm from April 5 to 11 except weekends and public holidays," said the circular.
BB said banks will take steps of their own about the attendance of manpower in their head-offices and branches to keep the banking services smooth and uninterrupted during the period. In this regard, banks can consider ensuring attendance of officials and employees who lives near branch offices, it added.
It said banks must ensure all health instructions issued earlier by the government and the central bank regarding the attendance of officials and employees and working atmosphere in bank branches across the country.
Banks must ensure all banking activities such as deposits and withdrawal of money, issuance of demand draft/pay-orders, receiving deposits, treasury invoice, disbursement of allowances and donations under different social safety net programmes of the government, payment against remittances, inter-bank and internal transactions, receiving utility bills and other transactions under BB's payment /clearing systems.
The central bank has also asked the banks to ensure other services such as disbursement of credits approved earlier, activities under different stimulus packages, payment of wages in different labour-intensive industrial areas, buying of export bills, loan approval and disbursements.
AD (authorized dealers) branches must be kept open for emergency foreign transactions.
Although the central bank has not given any clear instructions on how many employees will attend the offices, it has asked to fix the number as per their requirement.
Bank branches/sub-branches/booths located at seaports/land ports/air ports must be kept open in consultation with the local administration/port/customs authorities.
Banks will take decision about operation of agent banking as per their requirements. All commercial banks must keep adequate cash at their branches and ATM booths to ensure services to their clients. Banks must ensure sanitizer facilities at ATM booths also.
Evening banking and special banking operation during weekends will remain closed during the period, said the BB.
The government on Saturday announced a week-long countrywide lockdown from April 5 to curb the new wave of Covid-19 infections.
Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader has said the government is all set to enforce a countrywide week-long lockdown from April 5.
Quader made the announcement at a regular briefing from his official residence on Saturday morning.
